FL - Pines, Palms, More Species Dying On Big Palm Key As Rising Seawater Levels Infiltrate Aquifer [View all]

[hatrack]

Big Pine Key takes its name from the pine forests that cover the island, about 30 miles from Key West. Rare plants and endangered animals — such as the Key deer — live in those forests. But now the forests and hammocks are threatened by the rising seas around and beneath them.

Robert Ehrig points to a piece of land that was hardwood hammock when he came to live here 35 years ago.

“All the palms in here are dead,” Ehrig said. “The last one died about the time of Hurricane Wilma, about seven, eight years ago, maybe right after. Those palm trees were eight, 10-feet tall, which means they were 70 to 100 years old because they’re a very slow growing species and they died simply because of the prolonged tides.”

Big Pine Key has pine forests and hardwood hammocks because it sits on a freshwater lens. They need that freshwater to survive. The island is made of limestone, which holds rainwater -- almost like a sponge. But that sponge is porous to all kinds of water.

EDIT

http://wlrn.org/post/sea-level-rise-taking-pines-out-big-pine-key